To think we are, once again, two-thirds of the way through the year is just astonishing. But that also means something slightly more exciting – gamescom is once again here.
To kick things off, Geoff Keighley has gathered a whole bunch of announcements, both big and small, to show us what the next few months of games have in store.
Just last year, the Opening Night Live event at gamescom 2025 revealed the Black Myth sequel, LEGO Batman and……more.
But what else will there be? Not a lot, it seems.
Without further ado, scroll on to catch up on all the announcements from Gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live.
ALL OF THE GAMESCOM OPENING NIGHT LIVE 2026 ANNOUNCEMENTS
STAGE TOUR FINALLY HAS A RELEASE DATE AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING
Developed by the people who brought us the original Guitar Hero games, the game will feature full band support and customisable band mates. It’s out on all platforms on December 10 and will be bringing back plastic instruments too.
WE GOT A LOOK AT THE WEAPONS IN FINAL FANTASY VII: REVELATION
I’m excited to finally close out this distended remake trilogy BUT you can’t deny this looks flashy and expensive. It’s out in 2027.
THE WITCHER III: REMASTERED WAS THE BIG SHOW CLOSER
The remaster will include revamped traversal, combat, skill trees, transmog and all kinds of updates. It looks to be an exhaustive overhaul and is a free upgrade for Witcher 3 owners. And, of course, it’s compatible with the new expansion releasing in 2027. Remastered is hitting in September.
UBISOFT REVEALED A BRAND NEW RAINBOW 6 GAME BUT IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK
I guess Rainbow 6 was always tactical, so it fits, kind of, but yeah, not sure (once again) how I feel about this. You can wishlist it now if that’s something you do, and it’s out in 2027.
WORMS: GALACTIC TACTICS WAS ANNOUNCED (AS WELL AS A NEW WORMS)
The game is touted to be a new tactical adventure for the Worms which takes things to a new setting while keeping the series signature humour intact. There’s also an all new Worms coming too. You can expect Galactic Tactics in 2027.
TRAIN SIM WORLD 7 GOT ANOTHER TRAILER
I guess I have to play Train Sim Worlds 1 through 6. It’s out next month. Wow.
ROLLERCOAST TYCOON WONDERWORKS WAS REVEALED IF THAT IS MORE UP YOUR ALLEY
It’s a PC only and early access release for now, though no date was announced for when it’ll be available.
PERCEPTUM HAS YOU PLAYING AS A SCARED OLD LADY WHICH IS DIFFERENT ISN’T IT
The game is a first person horror game that has you playing a medium searching for her missing family. It’s out in 2027.
ACORNIA: MIRROR WORLDS IS TRYING TO REDEFINE COSY GAMES KIND OF
Called a bake-and-brawler, this game has you running a cake shop but also beating up people. It’s out in 2027.
THE LATEST VALOR MORTIS TRAILER CONFIRMS THE GAME IS STILL CLOSE
Vincent Cassel as Napoleon. First person Dark Souls-esque gameplay. What’s not to love? It’s out in October.
TANKRAT GOT A RELEASE DATE IF YOU’RE A TANK OR RAT ENTHUSIAST
Not really for me but Kepler hasn’t really missed yet. Which is great. I assume this is more for the tank enthusiasts though, not the rat enthusiasts, so sorry for misleading you earlier. It’s out in January 2027.
DJALA IS WORKING ON THEIR NEW GAME AND IT’S ENTIRELY ORIGINAL
The game is called Murals and features a hand-painted art style. The team previously brought us Battletoads and Disney Illusion Island. It’s out in 2027.
HUMANKIND II IS THE SEQUEL TO HUMANKIND WHICH IS GOOD ISN’T IT
The game is releasing for PC in 2027.
ELTA: DEFY ALL GODS WAS REVEALED AND IT’S AN ACTION PLATFORMER
The game has a heavy emphasis on quick movement and fluid traversal, which is enough for me. The art is a bit odd though but what can you do. It’s out in early 2027.
THE NEXT CO-OP SLOP (CO-SLOP?) GAME WAS REVEALED
I don’t mean slop in a negative sense either. Or do I? I don’t know. It’s called Age Twisters and you play as a Grandpa and Grandaughter as they can adjust their ages at will. It’s out in 2027 and like all good co-slop games it will have a friend pass too.
CAPCOM REVEALED THAT THE ONIMUSHA DEMO IS BEING EXPANDED SO GET UPDATING
The new sections look different to what’s been shown so far, and the game is super close which is nice.
MARIACHI LEGENDS IS A REALLY FUNKY LOOKING METROIDVANIA
It’s an oversatured genre, but the art and presentation is so incredible that I don’t care. Super keen for this one. It’s out in April 2027.
HOYOVERSE IS CHANNELLING THEIR STRONGEST FROMSOFT VIBES IN THEIR NEW GAME
I really don’t know how to feel about this, again, it’s a saturated genre / vibe but maybe they can pull it off. It’s called Nodus Fall and it does not yet have a release date. I’m not even convinced that is gameplay lol.
XBOX ROCKED UP TO SHOW OFF THE STORY TRAILER FOR GEARS OF WAR: E-DAY
Still on track for an October release, and still an Xbox console exclusive. It looks to be bringing the DRAMA.
THE NEWEST SILENT HILL TOWNFALL TRAILER INTRODUCES THE SUPPORTING CAST
I have so much faith in this, but hope it doesn’t just become a game about amnesia and trauma and Silent Hill 2. It’s out next month which is exciting.
WE GOT EVEN MORE OF A LOOK AT TIDES OF ANNIHILATION CRAZY COMBAT
Think Devil May Cry meets Bayonetta. The game follows Gwendolyn in an adventure that takes place across both London and Avalon as she tries to find the Holy Grail to save her sister. It’s still without a release date, but Gwendolyn is now being voiced by Angela Sant’Albano, who voiced Grace in Resident Evil Requiem.
CRIMSON DESERT IS GETTING A FREE UPDATE CALLED “ENHANCED”
The update is free for all existing owners of Crimson Desert and features expanded voice over languages, improved subtitles and “new story moments”.
SOUND IS THE NAME OF THE GAME IN LOFSONG
It’s giving Coccoon? In a good way.
CAPCOM POPPED BACK IN TO SHOW OFF THE FIRST MEGA MAN GAMEPLAY
The game looks incredibly authentic to the style of the original games, and introduces a new character named……Twinkle Girl. Hmm. It’s still on track for 2027, and Megaman skins are coming to Pragmata in the meantime.
THE NEWEST RAYMAN LEGENDS RETOLD TRAILER SHOWED OFF THE NEW MUSICAL LEVELS
You can expect both Macarena and MC Hammer in the final game, which is good because when I played Rayman Legends I felt both those songs were missing from the experience. It’s still on track for October.
THE NEW CONTROL RESONANT TRAILER USES SOME LICENSED MUSIC FOR A CHANGE
Excited, if not still wondering how this will come together. It’s out in exactly a month. Woo.
THE FIRST GAMEPLAY REVEAL FOR GAME OF THRONES: WAR FOR WESTEROS CONFIRMS THE GAME IS BEING MADE IN AUSTRALIA
The game is a real time strategy game that looks to borrow quite liberally from the television series style. It’s out for PC in early 2027.
DUST: ORIGINS IS A ISOMETRIC HORROR SHOOTER AND IT GOT A GAMEPLAY REVEAL
The game is being made by Airship Syndicate who brought us Darksiders Genesis.
EXODUS GOT ANOTHER TRAILER AND RELEASE DATE (AND THIS TIME SHOWED OFF AN OCTOPUS CREWMATE)
Hopefully you can romance them. Did I say that out loud. It’s out in April 2027 and is giving Mass Effect vibes.
WARLOCK: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS SHOWED UP AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH 10 MINUTES OF GAMEPLAY
Maggie Robertson plays the lead in this magical adventure set within the world of Dungeons & Dragons. The game is a single-player, third-person adventure due in 2027 in which you play with forbidden magic. Sounds great, and the alpha footage, while early days, is shaping up to be pretty solid.
YET ANOTHER 3 PLAYER CO-OP GAME IS COMING, BUT AT LEAST THIS ONE HAS A COOL SETTING
It’s called 1001 Threads of Mizan. It has people riding around the desert on magic carpets while taking on colossal enemies. It’s coming to all major platforms and you can even play it at Gamescom if you happen to be there but you’re probably not if you’re reading this.
THE 4A TEAM JUMPED ON STAGE TO INTRODUCE A GNARLY STORY TRAILER FOR METRO 2039
It looks incredible regardless, and a real step in the right direction after Exodus kind of disappointed me. Even more so impressive when you consider the environment in which this game was developed in. The Dark Ones are bac too, which I appreciate. It’s still on track for a February 2027 release.
SNOOP DOGG IS BEING ADDED TO HITMAN BECAUSE OF COURSE HE IS.
Something is up but I don’t know what. He plays a character called The Herbalist. Mm. You’ll have a month to hunt him beginning tomorrow, August 27th.
THE MEWGENICS COMPOSERS JUMPED ON STAGE TO PERFORM MUSIC FROM THE GAME
I want you to watch this and think about how I felt as I typed it up at 3:12am on a Wednesday morning. I can take this opportunity to remind you all that Mewgenics, which is one of the highest-rated games of 2026, is releasing for consoles on September 8th.
ROAD KINGS GOT A RELEASE DATE IF YOU LIKE TRUCKS
It’s coming in March and is a super detailed truck simulator where EVERYTHING matters. Weight, tires, suspension, fuel, windscreen wipers. Cars.
SHOWA AMERICAN STORY IS A CRAZY WHAT-IF STORY
The game is described as an RPG steeped in retro pop culture – a world in which Japan culturally colonised America.
CRAZY TAXI: WORLD TOUR’S LATEST TRAILER CONFIRMS MULTIPLAYER
It’s still on track for 2027.
THE NEWEST TRAILER FOR TUROK: ORIGINS TOOK US TO THE LOST LANDS AGAIN
I am not super familiar with the comics but this feels Turok in name only but there are truly not enough dinosaur games out there so I will take it. It’s a co-op focused shooter that is still on track for a 2027 release.
YOU CAN PLAY AS BIPEDAL DOGS IN GRAVHOUNDS
Who doesn’t love dogs? CERTAINLY NOT ME. It’s looking a bit weird and Fortnite-y but yeah. Early access coming in 2026.
PATH OF EXILE IS FINALLY GETTING A FULL 1.0 RELEASE
So many people in my circles loved this so much more than Diablo but I never play early access so I’m keen to jump into this now. It’s out December 11th 2026.
HEROES OF MIGHT AND MAGIC III IS GETTING THE REMAKE TREATMENT
This is like the only one I ever played and easily the one I have the most fond memories of so I’m keen to try it again.
WE GOT MORE GAMEPLAY OF NO LAW
The game is a cyber punk flavoured shooter from the developers who previously bought us The Ascent. I loved the vibe of that game, and super chuffed to see the devs trying something slightly different in terms of scope and scale. It’s due out in 2027.
FRICTIONAL GAMES REVEALED THE FIRST GAMEPLAY OF ONTOS
The game is a spiritual successor to Soma, which existed in a world in which people can transfer their minds elsewhere to live differently. It’s a bizarre concept that Frictional Games seem to be taking REALLY far with Ontos. I’m excited. It’s out in 2027.
PONY ISLAND 2 MADE AN APPEARANCE AND WE GOT A RELEASE DATE
It looks to be a crazy genre bending blend of game and live action, much like Inscryption was. It’s out in April 2027.
ALL IS NOT WELL IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM IN THE LATEST TRAILER FOR ZOOPUNK
Bizarre and weird looking (if you know what I mean), this is a big action shooter in which you play as animals. I dig the rhino though.
MORE GENRE BLENDING WAS ON DISPLAY WITH THIS LOVECRAFTIAN RENOVATION GAME
Also bizarre. You play the heir of a dilapidated but haunted hotel who must restore it to it’s former glory, all the while listening to ghost stories and the like.
